Lenten Reflection 2025: Singing Resurrection When the Earth is Being Crucified - First Sunday - The Earth Community Supports and Suffers

This is the first week of the Lenten Reflection Series: Singing Resurrection When the Earth is Being Crucified. I reflect upon the temptation of Jesus in the desert (Luke 4:1-13)

I have written a weekly series of reflections and prayers for the season of Lent. Scroll down to find this week’s offering!

Bodies on the Line

This week I finished reading a book by the Rev. Sue Parfitt, a retired Episcopal priest from Bristol, UK about her experiences in nonviolent civil disobedience as a part of the fight against climate change. In Bodies on the Line: Christians, Civil Resistance and the Climate Crisis, she shares the personal and theological reasons that have led to her being arrested numerous times for blocking roads and taking other actions with the groups Christian Climate Action and Just Stop Oil. Her actions have led to jail time; and in September, her bishop removed her right to preside over worship because of her climate action.

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Rev. Parfitt describes the reasons why she and others in Christian Climate Action have chosen to put their bodies on the line for climate change:

We undertake this because we believe that this is the only way for us to achieve the radical shifts required in government policy - or, as far as Christians are concerned, to adequately obey what God requires of us, for the Kingdom to be established on earth in this time of climate emergency.¹

Bodies on the Line is a powerful testament to what a faithful discipleship of climate action can look like in our time. I encourage each of you to read it.

LENTEN REFLECTION 2025:

Singing Resurrection When the Earth is Being Crucified

This is a series of weekly reflections as we move through the season of Lent and prepare for Easter. The name of this series, “Singing Resurrection When the Earth is Being Crucified,” is based on a haunting question by Anglican priest Stephen Blackmer: “What does resurrection look like when it is the Earth that is being crucified?”²

Lent is a time of reflection and repentance, and so this year I invite us to a time to reflect and repent concerning the reality of the climate and ecological crisis. Each Friday I will offer a brief scriptural reflection, questions for you to consider, and a short prayer. I pray that these are meaningful for you and deepen your Lenten journey this year.

This Lenten series is available to paid subscribers of Faith. Climate Crisis. Action. Upgrade today to receive the full devotional offering (as well as access to the entire archive of this newsletter). Each week includes a reflection on the Gospel reading for that week, questions for you to ponder, and a prayer written by me that you are invited to pray at any time during the season of Lent. I hope these resources are meaningful to you on your journey to the cross and beyond.

First Sunday in Lent: The Earth Community Supports and Suffers

Gospel Reading: Luke 4:1-13